I'm back!

How are we doing, lovelies?

Reviewers:

Varsini C P - Here's a longer chapter and thanks for letting me know. The Q/A thing is still in the cogs.

Kat Smith - How are You? It's fine, you can read whatever whenever you want, sweets. Hope the dogs are cute and safe as usual!

There was a very long silence, broken only by my and Stephen's breathing.

We were all lost in our own thoughts, with the absence of Sorenson who had taken his leave. It wasn't said out loud, but if he ran, we'd know it this time.

It didn't seem all too strange, seeing as the vampires were probably all too used to doing this.

Finally Rosalie broke out, "So, what are we going to do?" She asked.

I looked up at her, blond hair wrapped around her finger in a sign of nervousness.

I slumped in my seat. What were we doing? Why were we doing this? What was going to be accomplished from all this fussing? Emily was way gone. She was in all honesty, unreachable. Were we really about to put the Cullens and the rest our loved ones in danger for this? Was it worth it?

A glance at Stephen told me, he was probably thinking the same, heavy brow furrowed.

"Of course, it's worth it." Edward snapped suddenly.

I turned to look at him, the look on my face not impressed that he was listening in to my thoughts again.

"I have to; I know exactly when you start to worry about things you don't need to and this is something I would like to put a stop to immediately,"

Edward stood up to his full height, looking down at me with an unreadable face before looking up at Carlisle.

"I need to hunt. Do you mind…"

He trailed off but I heard the rest of it loud and clear. 'Keep an eye on her so she doesn't do anything stupid.'

I rolled my eyes when Carlisle nodded solemnly and in the blink of an eye my boyfriend was gone, the click of the door shutting after him the only evidence he left behind.

"Something is bothering you," Rosalie sighed.

I looked up at her from where I was playing games of Edward's laptop to see her leaning in the doorway of Edward's bedroom.

"Don't tell me you can read minds now too." I said, looking back down.

She laughed, moving to the bed and sitting down on cross legged.

"I don't need mind reading to know something has you worked up." She said.

"Am I that obvious?" I asked, suspiciously.

"You are more than obvious to us girls; to the boys' maybe not so much, unless it's Edward or Jasper or Carlisle. My husband is pretty much always oblivious."

I smiled at that. The fact that in Private Rosalie referred to Emmett as her husband had been a bit of a shock to me in the beginning. Now, it was only endearing.

"So, what's wrong? Please, don't be worried about Emily. Like Edward tried to imply childishly before he left, of course we need to get rid of this threat. She's the root of all our problems to be honest. Removing her will remove the other problems as well." She said.

I squinted up at her.

"You know, in the books, you hated Bella because she caused your family all these problems. She was always putting you all in danger; she wanted to give up her life to be a vampire, and all that." I told her.

Rosalie traced a finger through the bedspread.

"Your Book characters aren't us. We'd still have protected her for Edward just like we're protecting you and Stephen. That's what family does and you're ours." She said.

I smiled.

"Have I mentioned I like you, Rose?" I asked.

She shook her head. "You may mention it now."

"I like you, Rose."

We giggled.

There was a pause before she spoke up again.

"I think I can see why your book 'me' would be angry with Bella for giving up life to be a vampire."

"Because you wanted what she had and she was just giving it all up, I know," I said and she shrugged.

"Did she say what's wrong with her or not?"

Both of you turned to see Emmett poking his head in from around the corner.

Rosalie rolled her eyes.

"Why don't you ask her?" she said.

I shut the laptop.

"Guys, I'm fine. Jeez," I said, stretching out as Emmett and shut the door.

"Yeah, that's why Jasper has been fidgeting downstairs." Em rolled his eyes and sat down beside Rosalie.

I pursed my lips at their expectant faces before giving up.

"Fine, it's about…well, you all heard it. I offered Edward my blood and he refused. He already said that blood sharing was intimate and while…we…well, whatever, I don't know why he refuses that." I said, flushing furiously.

Emmett and Rosalie glanced at each other before smiling sympathetically.

"T…it isn't personal. There are a few things that vampires do among themselves that are a different form of intimacy." Rosalie started.

"Yeah…doing that is just…" Emmett glanced nervously at Rosalie.

"Human," I finished.

"Yeah, that,"

I snorted.

"What we're trying to say is; Edward is just trying to be careful with you. You're human and he just doesn't want to risk anything."

I clicked my tongue about to argue further when both vampires tilted their heads.

"Or you could just ask Edward," Emmett quickly said when the door to the bedroom opened and my eyes met with a quirked eyebrow.

Edward's face was impassive as he entered the room, watching his siblings leave before gently shutting the door.

"Hey," I said, scooting forwards to the edge of the bed and he mumbled out a greeting, moving to the dresser to take his jacket off.

"How was the hunt? Will you be fine?" I asked.

"It was ok; I had more than I usually do. My wounds are gone and I'll be fine." He said, unbuttoning his cuffs.

"That's good." I mumbled.

"Listen, I want you to know that the blood-sharing thing is not about you." he said, his back turned to me.

"Yeah, those two sure made it clear."

There was a whoosh before Edward was standing in front of me, palms, now warm cupping my cheeks. "You are human, my love, with no intentions of becoming a vampire. I don't want you to go through any circumstances that might change that." He said.

I touched his hand.

"I understand, don't worry." I nodded and he sighed, looking conflicted.

"What's wrong?" I asked.

"Well, there was something I wanted to ask you." He said when there was a small knock and the door opened, revealing Carlisle.

"Tulika, dear, Charlie just called. He wants you home for dinner." He said.

"Right, my phone's dead." I said, late realization dawning over me as Edward dropped his hand.

"I'll drop you, I just need to change." He said and I nodded, following Carlisle out.

"Is he going to be fine?" I asked, coming down the stairs with Carlisle.

Carlisle nodded.

"Yes, you don't have to worry," he said.

"I'm not worried. I'm just…feeling guilty." I said eyes downwards and he smiled, looking over at me.

"Don't feel that either. Edward would do it time and again if it meant protecting you. So would any of us."

"That isn't making me feel better."

"Apologies, I suppose, I should be able to tell you things to soothe you but I don't have the privilege of being privy to your thoughts."

"No one is, not really." I pointed out and he nodded thoughtfully.

"Perhaps that's why Edward is feeling so torn." He said.

"Torn…? Over what?" I asked, as we reached the door to his office.

"His heart; there are few things Edward will truly ever deny you, my sweet. Just remember, he will walk over himself to make you happy. Whether you let him do that or not, that decision lies with you." Carlisle patted my shoulder before withdrawing into the mahogany office.

I frowned, looking up at the stairs that led to Edward's floor before continuing on down.

The confusion lasted long until Edward was dropping me off home, his lips hesitant and careful against mine as I kissed him goodnight and when Charlie mentioned that Renee wanted me to visit them in Florida.

What awaits T now?

Take a guess!